The graph above shows the water levels associated with historic floods for different locations along the Red River. Four curves are plotted.

• 1950 Flood Event (before the existence of the Red River Floodway).
• 1966 Flood Event (before the existence of the Red River Floodway).
• 1979 Flood Event (after the Red River Floodway was built)
• Levels of the Primary Dike System within the City of Winnipeg.

In 1950, water levels within Winnipeg easily overtopped the elevation of the City's primary dike system. In 1966, the water levels remained below the primary dike elevation. The 1979 flood was substantially below the elevation of primary dikes within the City of Winnipeg.

The river flows associated with each flood is as follows:

• 1950 Flood: 103,400 cubic feet per second (cfs)
• 1966 Flood: 88,000 cfs
• 1979 Flood: 54,800 cfs
• Forecast April 24, 1997: 138,000 cfs

The inset of the graph shows the flow split at Winnipeg. Under the forecasted scenario of 138,000 cfs flow upstream of the Red River Floodway, 59,000 cfs would be diverted to the Red River Floodway Channel, with the remaining 79,000 cfs left to pass through the City of Winnipeg. The PINK DOT shows where the water level is predicted to be at James Avenue based on the April 24 forecast.